by Frank J. Dmuchowski
Today while celebrating the 35th anniversary of the APCC, we remember Ray Okonski whose wonderful generosity to the Cultural Center and to Polonia will always be remembered and deeply appreciated. Ray (as he like to be called) was a “True Man for All Seasons.” Polonia lost Ray on November12, 2021 when he was ninety-five. Raymond Norman Okonski was a generous philanthropist, dedicated Polonian and decorated World War II veteran. He was born on June 11, 1926, in Hamtramck to Stanley and Sophia (Szczesnik) Okonski. His mother was born in Russian-occupied Poland near Warsaw and his father was a first generation Polish American. Ray’s first language was Polish.
Ray graduated from high school in 1944 and planned to attend Wayne State University. However, this was at the height of World War II, and he was drafted into the US Army. In March of 1945 Ray distinguished himself during the famous crossing of the Rhine at the Battle of the Bridge at Remagen where he was seriously wounded and received the Purple Heart. He also received the Bronze Star.
After the war he went to the University of Michigan where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial-Mechanical Engineering in 1949 as well as a Master of Business Administration in 1950. It was this combination plus a focus on being the best he could be that propelled Ray to a successful career as an executive. Afterwards he became a Polonian philanthropist who focused on the importance of education for Polonian youth while supporting many other Polonian causes and institutions.
In March 1990 Ray married Suzanne Marie Sloat who shared his philanthropic goals toward Polonia. Sadly, she passed away on August 13, 2014. It was through the ‘Suzanne Sloat and Ray Okonski Foundation’ that they supported the cultural and educational causes that were close to their hearts.
Ray belonged to service organizations such as the American Council for Polish Culture, Detroit Polish Century Club, American Polish Cultural Society, the Friends of Polish Art, Polish League of American Veterans, and the Order of Alhambra to name just a few. He often served on their board of directors.
Ray has been financially generous to various organizations, such as the American Polish Cultural Center. However, closest to his heart were all the smaller projects and contributions. For example, for many years he contributed additional funds for scholarships given through the American Polish Cultural Society. He donated funding so that students at the University of Michigan Dearborn Campus and the Wayne State University Polish Club could travel to Poland for cultural and language study. Many of these organizations and his beloved University of Michigan have recognized his generosity and achievements.
Celebrating the Polish contribution to America, he donated four memorial stones at the Battlefield in Savannah Georgia where General Kazimierz Pułaski was mortally wounded. He generously funded the development of the nationally recognized Polish Language Seal of Biliteracy Test which encourages high school students to study Polish and receive college credit before graduating. Proudly, Ray funded the development of an inexpensive and innovative “wheelchair escalator” which could be used at an individual’s home. He formulated the engineering concept and had it developed at the University of Detroit Mercy. Ray received the patent rights shortly before his 95th birthday.
Ray leaves us with an inspirational legacy of service to Polonia and a great joy for all things Polish.
